The avocado was regarded as a luxury item in the past but today it is affordable to all. Prices have come down since more of the fruit is being harvested year after year. Countries like South Africa are keen on boosting avocado exports which will push the prices further down.
Most of the avocado is being grown by first time farmers who want to meet the constantly rising global demand for the tasty fruit. While experienced avocado farmers are expanding in the hopes of producing the fruit year-round and at lower costs. Growing the profitable avocado crop is hugely beneficial especially for rural farmers.
Avocado Growing in South Africa
According to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the gross value of avocados produced in 2018/2019 was about R1.42 billion. It has been on an upward trend since 2009 when it was at R170 million.
Avocado growers in South Africa are made up of well-established commercial farmers and emerging smallholder farmers. Avocado farmers are mainly found in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Majority of the smallholder farmers own between one and two hectares.
Avocado Farms in South Africa
Many avocado farms in South Africa have standard density planting. The spacing from one tree to another and from one row to another is 5m by 5m. This means 300-400 trees can be planted on one hectare in South Africa.
Avocado Yield per Hectare in South Africa
The first fruits come after three years but an avocado farm in South Africa begins full production after five to six years. The average yield is 16 tons per hectare depending on the avocado variety. Fuerte avocado can yield from 8-10 tons while Hass can yield between 12 and 16 tons. Other varieties can yield 15 tons and reach up to 20 tons per hectare.
Production per hectare increases gradually year after year as the trees get older. Proper weeding, pests and disease control and maintenance of trees will yield more fruits per tree.
Farming Avocados in South Africa
With rising input costs and limited resources, most of the avocado farmers in South Africa are looking for ways to increase yield in their orchards. Some of them have started practicing innovative agricultural techniques such as high density planting and planting dwarf varieties.
High density planting in an avocado farm involves controlling the size of the trees by:
- Thinning especially for avocado trees that grow vigorously. Removal of alternate trees is required so as to avoid crowding.
- Regular pruning
- Using a chemical called Paclobutrazol (PBZ), which is used as plant growth regulator
This allows for closer tree spacing and higher initial yields per hectare. The spacing from one tree to another and from one row to another is 5m by 2m. This means 800 trees can be planted on one hectare in South Africa.
Although high density planting is more expensive to plant and maintain, the harvests start bringing in profits after five years. But with standard density planting, the avocado farm starts being profitable after six years.
Growing dwarf varieties like Gem is slowly gaining approval among avocado farmers in South Africa. Here are some economic benefits of growing dwarf varieties:
- Dwarf avocado trees grow slowly and require less pruning. Small branches are removed to be used as mulch.
- The dwarf size makes harvesting take a shorter time with less labor and machinery.
- Spraying dwarf avocado trees for pests or diseases is easier and more cost-effective
- Dwarf avocado trees require less chemical fertilizer and this saves on labor and fertilizer costs
- Dwarf avocado growing is also a form of high density planting since 550 trees can be planted on one hectare.